Russian revels in well-paid overtime

Russia's Kardanov (red) gets the better of USA's Lindland

Varteres Samourgachev's spot of overtime earned him payment in the form of gold as he captured the first Greco-Roman wrestling medal of the Games.

The 22-year-old European champion contributed to Russia's domination of the first day of wrestling finals with a 3-0 win over Cuba's Juan Luis Maren in the under 63kg category.

Samourgachev showed no nerves against the more experienced Cuban in a contest that went into overtime.

Although the Russian led 1-0 at the end of the contest extra time was required as he had not registered the three points needed for a win.

Obliged

Samourgachev duly obliged, though, by first adding a second point, and then benefiting from a penalty to the Cuban.

Samourgachev celebrated by outpacing three stewards who attempted to keep up with him as he carried the Russian flag on a high-paced lap of honour.

Akaki Chachua of Georgia beat Switzerland's Beat Mozer in the bronze medal match.

Russia then added a second gold medal in the under 76 kgs category as Mourat Kardanov edged out Matt James Linden of USA 3-0.

The scoring came in a little flurry in the first period as Linden failed to escape from the Russian's fierce 'gut wrencher' hold.

Finland's Marko Yli-Hannuksela beat David Manukyan for the bronze.

The battle of the little men billed as a dream final turned into a nightmare for World Champion Lazaro Rivas as reigning Olympic champion Kwon Ho Sim retained his title with an 8-0 drubbing of the Cuban.

Unrelenting

Sim roared out into a first round lead, scoring all his eight points with a succession of rollovers, each scoring two points in an unrelenting onslaught which almost saw Rivas suffer the indignity of a defeat by grand superiority.

Yong Gyun Kang of North Korea claimed the bronze with victory over Andriy Kalashnikov of the Ukraine.

In the 97kg category Atlanta bronze medallist Mikael Ljungberg went two better this time round after winning a titanic battle against Davyd Saldadze of the Ukraine.

Former World Champion Ljungberg marked his return to winning ways, four years after he last stood on top of a podium of an international event.

The bronze medal went to young American surprise packet Garrett Lowney in his first major international tournament. He beat Konstantinos Thanos of Greece.